Forever My Love

by Rebecca Brandewyne

Mary Carmichael, a Scottish lass, destined, or so a gyspsy has told her, to enjoy a forbidden passion, fulfills that prophecy when she falls for Hunter MacBeth, her kidnapper. Originally in paperback.

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Romance, Medieval, Medieval Romance, Scotland, Fiction

560 pages, Hardcover

First published February 1, 1982

About the author

Born in Knoxville, Tennessee, Rebecca lived in Knoxville and then, later, Chattanooga for the first few years of her life. After that, she and her family moved to Kansas, where she grew up, spending her summers in Alabama, visiting both sets of her grandparents. She says she's just a country girl with a dash of big city sprinkled in for spice. But having traveled extensively in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, and the Caribbean, she moves easily between the publishing world of New York and her hometown.

Rebecca graduated cum laude with departmental honors from Wichita State University, earning a B.A. in journalism, minors in history and music (theory and composition), and an M.A. in communications [mass (broadcasting) and interpersonal (dyadic relationships):]. During the course of her education, she was fortunate enough to study at various times under, among several other distinguished instructors, three Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists and one of the foremost authorities in the field of interpersonal communication. Twice a recipient of the Victor Murdock Scholarship, Rebecca taught interpersonal communication at the university level before becoming a published writer.

She was twenty-one when she started work on her first novel, No Gentle Love. She finished the book a year later and sold it to Warner Books some months after her twenty-third birthday, making her, at that time, the youngest romance author in America, a record that stood for ten years before finally being broken. To date, Rebecca has written over thirty consecutive bestselling titles, including novels and novellas on the following lists: New York Times, Publishers Weekly, USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Magazine & Bookseller, Ingram, B. Dalton, and Waldenbooks, among many others.

Her books have been translated into a number of foreign languages, including Chinese, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Rumanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish; and they have been published in over sixty countries worldwide. Many have been selections of the Doubleday Book Club and Literary Guild. Hardback editions of several titles have been published by Severn House, and large-print editions of some books are also available from Macmillan Library Reference and Thorndike Press. Rebecca currently has millions of books in print in the United States alone.

From Affaire de Coeur magazine, she has won: the Classic Award for Classic Romances, for Love, Cherish Me, 1990; the Golden Quill Award for Best of the '80s Historical Romances, for Love, Cherish Me, 1990; the Bronze Pen (Wholesalers' Choice) Award, 1989; the Silver Pen (Readers' Choice) Award, 1988, 1987, and 1986; and a Gold Certificate for The Outlaw Hearts, 1987.

From Romantic Times magazine, she has won: the Reviewer's Choice Nominee for Best Historical Romantic Mystery, for The Ninefold Key, 2004; the Reviewer's Choice Certificate of Excellence for Victorian Historical Romance, for The Jacaranda Tree, 1995; the KISS (Knight in Shining Silver) of the Month for Best Hero, for The Jacaranda Tree, 1995, and for Swan Road, 1994; the Career Achievement Award for Futuristic Romance, 1991, for Passion Moon Rising and Beyond the Starlit Frost; the Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Historical Gothic, for Across a Starlit Sea, 1989, and for Upon a Moon-Dark Moor, 1988; the Historical Romance Novelist of the Year Award, 1987; and the Reviewer's Choice Award for Best Western Romance, for The Outlaw Hearts, 1986. Rebecca has also been named one of Love's Leading Ladies and inducted into Romantic Times magazine's Hall of Fame.

http://www.brandewyne.com/castle/gall...

Reviews

[Meredith is a hot mess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her jet black eyes sparkled maliciously in the light of the torch she carried…Gnarled blue veins showed plainly in her aged hands as she reached out to lay the torch to the town.

The rotten thatched roofs of the forgotten buildings caught fire quickly, and soon Mheadhoin was ablaze with the flames…she made her way to the cliff at the edge of the village. There she flung her arms wide, palms outstretched toward the night sky, her eerie form silhouetted against the licking orange and yellow of the burning town. Her great cloak flapping wildly about her in the high wind, she stood like an angry, evil raven beating its wings against its prey. Her voice rose to a shrill piercing across the waters of the loch, and the shadowed figures upon the ramparts of the castles froze in terror as they listened.

“Hear me, thou marauders of Bailekair, thou scavengers of Dundereen, thou cowards of Glenkirk, for I, Grizel, in painful lament for the bairn thy foul deed has wrested from my breast, do lay my curse upon ye! The spawn of the devil will walk amongst ye, accursed amongst thy people for another’s sin, the same of which will be his own in the end. Aye, accursed,” Grizel croaked slyly…Then suddenly, as though she had willed it, the flames blazed hotly; the smoke swirled high like a shroud about the harridan. She grinned, and from the wide, gaping hole in her face a high, cackling sound of laughter split the night crazily with its echo, reverberating through the Glen. Then only the remains of charred ashes marked the place where she had stood. Like the village the hag was gone. Only the kirk rose untouched by the fire, its solitary spire glowing red, reflecting the blaze.

Oh the theatrics! I was all for the drama and it was written beautifully. This was an unabashed epic romance. Sometimes a story just ‘clicks’ and sucks you right in – this story was like that for me. The excerpt above recalls the old crone, Grizel, cursing the the castles that surrounded the village Mheadoin and belonged to the clans Macbeth and Carmichael. What followed was a brutal feud between the two clans lasting for years. In the midst of this feud was a Romeo and Juliet inspired romance. There were several scenes in this book that seemed directly inspired by Romeo and Juliet. I quite liked it, and thought the author pulled off the Scottish version of Romeo and Juliet very well.

Remember the famous Romeo and Juliet dance scene? This book has both a similar dance scene and a masquerade ball. Mary Carmichael doesn’t spend time out on her balcony listening to odes of love by her Romeo (Hunter Macbeth). Instead she spends time on her castle’s ramparts watching the Macbeths raid her clan’s lands. Similar to Romeo and Juliet, once Hunter and Mary get together they fall quickly into star-crossed love.

Some people may complain about the purple prose, but I didn’t mind it. The descriptive writing hit just the right note for me. It was immersive and succeeded in setting the stage. Vague enough to allow my imagination to roam wild. The writing was atmospheric, but not too terribly detailed. Here’s a great example:

‘Twas dark in her dream; the gray mist swirled around her so thickly she could scarcely see; the land through which she traveled appeared strangely twisted and unfamiliar. The steed she rode was coal black and high-strung. Mary could feel the wetness of the beast through the thin arascaid she wore and knew somehow its ebony coat was damp not from the mist but lathered from wild flight. The animal’s sides heaved as she paused and glanced back over one shoulder.

She heard crazy laughter in the darkness , and her heart pounded fiercely with fright. It was still chasing her, the horrible two-headed monster that had been following her for miles. She must get away! She laid her whip upon the stallion’s sides, pressing on frantically. The hooves of the black steed clattered ominously over the rocky terrain, and the mountain toward which she rode loomed forbiddingly in the distance.

The author successfully described the eerie dreamscape of Mary’s nightmare, while also including action and suspense. This dream and the “coal black steed” come back to play a role in the book later on in the story.

I know I’m biased because I do like descriptive writing, and I understand how this book could get called out for purple prose. I’ll admit the writing was overwrought at times. I liked the story so much I was able to look past the flaws. This book isn’t for people who like short, straight-forward stories that get directly to the point. If you like romantic books rich in vivid imagery, you’ll like this. Quite a bit of time was dedicated to describing daily life at the castle, the bustling village life, and the Scottish countryside. I savored all these details; It brought the historical setting to life.

The story is rather dense. Within the first 50 pages a whole host of names, places, and historical family details were thrown my way. I was repeatedly flipping to the front of the book looking at the list of players and map. I actually really appreciate books that have a map and many characters, so I didn’t mind this at all.

This is a bodice ripper through and through. At one point the heroine’s bodice is literally ripped in half. Almost every trope you’d expect to see in a bodice ripper is in this book: ancient curses, war, treachery, rape, kidnapping, and transcontinental travel. That gypsy wedding! Oh my, I was fanning myself it was so hot.

I’m rating this five stars, not because it’s so good it transcends the bodice ripper genre (like This Other Eden and The Silver Devil do imo), but because it’s one of the best bodice rippers I’ve read. It has a gorgeous setting and the plot is substantive: filled not only with romance but also politics and family history. There’s a large cast of characters and the plot is epic in scale.

Hugh is one of the most frightening antagonists I’ve come across. In the beginning I was afraid the author was just hinting at the evil inside Hugh, but would fail to unleash it. After reading books where the bad guys never really cause any significant harm, and are always defeated, I wanted Hugh to reach his full potential. Well, there was no reason to worry because the author ‘went there’ with Hugh – he caused all kinds of devastation. He won often against the good guys. I felt unsafe whenever Hugh arrived on the scene, and I appreciated that the author created that feeling of uncertainty and unease regarding the antagonist.

Despite the clear Romeo and Juliet inspiration, the hero and heroine grow up and the tone of their love matured. After about 260 pages there was a massive shift; The story became very dark. I did not expect so many roadblocks for the hero and heroine. There were many times I wondered ‘how in the world will this be resolved?’ I was never sure if the heroine would go through another trial or a receive a brief respite of happiness.

Forever My Love needs to be made into a movie, with the popularity of the tv series, Outlander, I know there’s a market for it. Unfortunately this book lacks the massive following of Outlander and has faded away into obscurity. The author should start networking again; I’d love to see this book back in print and available via kindle. A new cover would be nice too.

Favorite passages:

Mary drawn to the cathedral, broke away from the others to enter the hushed stillness of the church. There she knelt briefly in prayer.

“Holy Mary, Mother of God,” she prayed softly, “grant unto me and mine thy bessing, and forgie our many sins. Look down upon us wie favor, and guide us in this strange land so far from our home.”

She paused, uncertain of how to continue, and then Hunter was kneeling there beside her, head bowed low. He clasped her folded hands gently.

“Oh, God in heaven,” his voice whispered in the silence. “We are not worthy of being thy servants, for this love of ours has brought much pain to those we cherish and wouldna hae hurt had there been any other way for us to be as one. Forgie us our selfishness; hae mercy upon us whose love for one another came as swiftly as a summer storm and grew wie passing time as a seed from rain-washed ground.We are husband and wife in heart, if nae in name, and no truer love hath mon for woman than Hunter Macbeth for Mary Carmichael. Before God, I pledge my love and life unto her.”

I loved the prayer scene with Mary and Hunter in the cathedral. So sweet and endearing. A pet peeve of mine is when historical fiction writers completely leave out religion. Religion played such a huge role in people's lives back then that including religious aspects of life is important imo. It adds authenticity.

A lifetime seemed to pass between them in that first moment of their meeting. As though some unknown force had destined them for just such an instant in their lives, as though the years long past had been fraught with waiting for them both, a sudden, breathless hush fell upon them as their eyes met and locked across the room.

My maiden gold,” he whispered softly. “My beloved tigress, my own. No matter how long it takes, I will wait for ye here, in Mheadhoin.”

I waited, Mary, my love. I waited so long at Mheadhoin, but ye dinna come to me. Why? Why? Oh, God, beloved! Did ye nae love me after all, or are ye even now lying in some cold, dark grave? Curse my honor! Damn my pride! Ye were worth them both, and, still, I wouldna see it. And now–now when ’tis too late–Oh Mary!

I admired all the passages relating to the curse. I really appreciated how the author wove the curse with the fates of everyone throughout the story.

“Dinna be afraid,” the crone said. “Ye called for help, and I am here to gie it to ye.”

“Who–who are ye?”

“I am part of what once was and will be again. I come from before your time and hae waited many, many years for your arrival.”

“How can ye help me?”

“By showing ye what few others hae e’er seen. Destiny!” The hag flung her cape out from her withered body and was instantly surrounded by a mass of fire that burned hotter and hotter until she was enveloped in the flames.

“Do ye wish to see it, child?”

Mary trembled with fear, for ’twas bad luck to know one’s future, but she could not seem to help herself.

“Aye.” She nodded frozenly. “I want to see.”

“Then, behold!”

The girl turned. The two-headed monster’s cage was rumbling toward her, its keeper beckoning slyly to her with one hand. By the light of the blaze Mary could see it was her own mother enticing her toward the cage that contained the monster bearing the heads of her brother Ian and her cousin Hugh!

“They come for ye, child.”

…Her eyes narrowed as she gave the woman a suspicious glance, wondering what spell the old witch wove.

“Look upward to yon mountain crag.” The ancient seer gestured toward the peak in the distance. From its crest rose the spire of a kirk, and in the swirling gray mist Mary spied a ghostly destrier upon which was mounted a shrouded figure. The girl shivered.

“Who is he?” she asked.

“Your mirror, child. Dinna ye see yourself reflected there in his eyes?”

“Nay!” she cried. “He is my enemy! I feel it!”

“Aye.” The prophet grinned craftily. “But he waits for ye all the same, as do they.” Her black eyes gleamed maliciously as she nodded toward Mary’s family once more.

“”Nay!” Mary screamed again. “He carries the scent of death upon his soul. Death! Dinna let him touch me! Cold. So cold. So many tears. So many graves. What does it mean?” Her voice rose to a shrill piercing. “What does it mean?”

But there was no one to answer. The grizzled witch had gone. The flames had taken her at last, and naught save ashes lay where once she’d been.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read: 8/24/21
I had a more detail review but lost it.

I wanted to like this book, but I couldn't. The story started out great but fell flat. It started out with a highland curse on both warring clans. The story almost had a Romeo and Juliet vibe. But then Juliet is forced into two marriages where she is raped. The story got redundant and the villians were one dimensional, especially her mother. The h marries the sadistic cousin who killed her father bc the H.'s dagger is responsible for her brother's death. So she marries her evil cousin, who does horrible things to her. Thank goodness the author doesn't go in to detail.

The story finally picked up in the last 150pgs. When the MC leave the Highlands, but have to come back to defeat their enemies. It was a very satisfying ending.

I just wish the book had had more history. King James iii going to war with his heir and dying in a tower could've been used more. The was a lot of history ignored or glossed over.

So I have trouble rating this book. I had a stressful wk and this wasn't the book to read. I think this BR is either a hit or miss. Also there are no curse words. Not even a " Blood hell" the characters would use " Merry go up". -- that was funny and weird. If you spent the dimes you might as well go for the buck. 😀

[TinaNoir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh man!

Once every blue moon I traipse down into my basement intent on unpacking all the boxes we had in storage to prior to moving into our bigger house we are in now. I have a fuck ton of rubbermaid bins filled with mass market paperback books that have been in storage for a billionty years. So many are throwbacks to my early years of reading romance. Some are out of print.

I came across my Rebecca Brandewyne stash and got immediately nostalgic. First she had the best Elaine Duillo covers (there is an edition of this book with some really awful cover that burned my eyes it was so bad. Don't look at it, look at the edition with the pretty cover) and second, I remember these books were packed with story.

I also remember this one as being one of my favorites. I don't remember much, I swear I last read it sometime in the late 80s. But I do remember the heroine's name was Mary and she had something called 'The Carmichael eyes' (which were violet, naturally), and she and the hero were the Romeo and Juliet of their warring clans who fell in love early in the book and that they ran off together (along with their respective BFFs) and travelled to live by his prowess with a sword.

So not much. But I decided to give it a new read.

Holy cow, there was so much more. This book was TOTAL DRAMA ISLAND!!! Yes Mary and Hunter (the hero) were these two epic lovers foretold in a friggin' prophecy by a dying old witch named Grizelda (of all things) when she cursed their families and that would either completely destroy or unite their clans... depending.

But I had forgotten that Mary had to marry twice before she finally got with Hunter. One to a very nice but weak man and once a forced marriage to the prime villain throughout the book (TW/CW: marital rape and some torture -- off-screen, spoken of only ). I think she went mad at least twice in the course of the story and was held prisoner at least twice as well. Also almost being burned as a witch. Oh, yeah, she also has the sight.

Meanwhile, Hunter is all dark and half-Romany/Half-Scots who has a cruel smile because of a whip cut on his lip (delivered by Mary when they were enemies for half a second when they first met).

But memory is an odd thing because even though I had forgotten a lot, as I got into the book I actually remembered more and more plot and even some dialogue. Also, there was a very vivid entire subplot with a perfidious cousin of Hunter's and Mary's evil oldest brother that I would have sworn was in a Jude Deveraux book (they did blend a bit back in the day).

But these two kids are crazy in love and they flee, breaking from their clans and Mary from her evil, raping husband along with Mary's two kids (one of whom is Hunter's). They go to France and Hungary and I think at one point they even shelter in a cave.

But there is a final show down, complete with other warring clans swooping down to their rescue (united by the power of Mary and Hunter's love and prophecy), and even the king and other famous historical Scottish figures. The prophecy is revealed and we get a fab HEA.

Whew!

Reading this now, I would never give it five stars. But I am letting this keep my original five stars because dammit, this book served up some Old Skool bodice ripper realness without being completely problematic.

[Naksed · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only read 179 out of 555 pages so please bear that in mind when you read about my immense dislike of the characters in this popular, highly rated, historical romance.

The beginning was promising. The author sets up a Romeo and Juliet type of romance set in Scotland in the late 1400s, very clever since there were real life deathly feuds between all those greedy, mini-tyrants who headed their clans with fierce pride.

The heroine, Mary, first meets the "hero" Hunter, in a situation where he tries to rape her because hello, Bodice-Ripper? She whips him something fierce, leaving a permanent scar on his lips and flees untouched from his brutal, would-be, possession. So now of course, our hero is completely in love. This manho who is used to women falling at his feet has finally met his match. He starts stalking her throughout the Scottish Royal court, and she outwardly disdains him while inwardly, she is already feeling the warm tinglings of her Traitorous Body. So far, so good. So finally, a neat plot contrivance allows the would be Romeo to kidnap our Scottish Juliet. That same night, their dub-con consummation takes place, with her Traitorous Body completely consumed by the burning hot passion of his loins.

The morning after, they discover egads! They are both head over heels in love with each other. I guess the sex did it because there is absolutely no other reason given for them overnight going from sworn enemies to puppy lovers. The plan is that they are both going to leave their stupid family feuds behind and just live out their love hidden somewhere in the Scottish highlands. That was the first WTF moment.

The second WTF moment was when he tells her regretfully that though he loooooooves her, he can't marry her because she is already betrothed (to the mustache twirling cartoonish villain of the piece) so any union between them wouldn't be "legal." Uh thanks for that convenient legal advice, also known as the doctrine of why buy the cow when the milk is for free? I love that the kidnapper and rapist is all of a sudden concerned with legality.

The straw that broke this camel's back was when, two months into their affair, not only has this Romeo not packed up to go to these mythical highlands he keeps dangling in front of her, but he actually returns her to her clan, knowing this would at worst mean a death sentence (cause of the whole victim blaming attitude of those super logical and compassionate patriarchal types) and at best, she would be married off to one of the lower clan members who would stoop to marry someone else's leavings. All because he cannot live without honor. And he is so weak and utterly wimpy that he actually forces her to make the choice. Stay with him and ruin his honor or willingly go off to live a miserable life without him, and one where she is going to be spat on, jeered, shunned, and probably beaten to death. Of course, our dumb as a post heroine pats him lovingly on the head and decides to sacrifice herself, for their love.

And sure enough, she goes back to experience all of the above, plus a forced marriage and rape by her cousin.

What a romance! I looked at the hundreds of pages left of this and decided I, unlike the TSTL heroine of this drivel, was not willing to make the sacrifice cause it would be torture to continue!

[daemyra, the realm's delight · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forever My Love is a medieval bodice-ripper that will not disappoint fans of the genre!

It is an epic tale that favours lush writing, some of it poetic (the alliteration in those opening paragraphs tho), and some of it wordy, and it features a large cast of characters, which makes it important for the reader to pay close attention for the first 70 pages or so, to get a handle of the many names. After that, it's smooth sailing to WTF Land.

Bodice ripper elements: heroine has multiple husbands, one of whom is physically violence and explicitly enjoys nonconsensual relations, big misunderstandings, H+h separations, and continental travel.

There are some great reviews that tell the Romeo and Juliet plot of Forever My Love so I'll spend my review picking out what I liked and didn't like.

I love medieval romances that bleed into the high fantasy genre territory through the political machinations of backstabbing lords (literally) and through the brutal killings that are gross but show how life was back then. Forever My Love has that feeling to it.

Memorable villains include one of the best evil couples/star-crossed lovers I've ever read in Ian and Effie. Lady Margaret, Mary's mom is another "bad guy" who is memorable for her fascinating biography. In the early chapters, we are told she was born a bastard and bullied when she caught the eye of her current husband. She felt scared of his rough coupling, was terrified of dying when she was pregnant because I think her own mom died or someone close to her had during childbirth, and she didn't feel like she could confide in her servants.

All of these factors transforms her into a cold, power-hungry tyrant who turns her sons away from their dad. She has a fabulous backstory but I don't believe she is in many memorable WTF scenes later on, or if she was, they are now overshadowed by memories I have of other villains. I felt bad for Lady Margaret - as a villain, she has a tragic story!

One thing about bodice rippers that I don't always love is the simplicity of the big misunderstanding. There is no time for them to correct the other person's misconception, or if there is, they decide not to do it in order to repay the lack of trust/loyalty their partner has in them, or they tell the truth but are not believed by their partner. This happens in Forever My Love, and both Hunter and Mary, at times, do this to each other.

Psychologically-speaking, I could have done WITHOUT Hunter's thoughts when he was thinking of killing Mary when they were on the outs. There was an extended paragraph about how he fantasized about different ways to murder her, one of which included ritualistically cleansing her body and loving on her before he kills her?????????????



But it's not like he hides it from her? Hunter tells Mary later he will kill her if she betrays him.



This didn't sit right with me - a romantic interest expressing his desire to possess the heroine to the point of killing her if she "crosses" him was too much, even for me. Side note: I've only ever read one other story where this happens, and this was in the POV of the other man, the villain, in Gina Veronnese's House of Satan.

Some of the lighthearted aspects of the novel involved the Scottish king (and his serious contemplation of his bowl of strawberries in one droll scene), and the travels Hunter and Mary take outside of Scotland - I loved the different cultures and lands they went to. I would love to read more medievals where the H+h travel on the silk road!

And what a great ending - I loved the secret we discover about the feud between the Carmichael and Macbeth clan near the end of the novel - it was a great way to cap off the story, and I was so distracted by everything else going on that I didn't have time to speculate on what was a major giveaway. That's all I'll be saying about that! ;)

Highly recommend Forever My Love for fans who have time to get stuck in a medieval bodice ripper.

[Regan Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

I understand the few low reviews on this book are trying to make a point, but I think they are unfair to both the author and the romance. Read on for the real scope.

I read Rebecca Brandewyne's historical romance for her ability to sweep me away to another time and place and to create a world I feel a part of...and for her wonderful stories of a love that overcomes great obstacles to endure. Forever My Love does all that, but there are some disturbing elements with this one that I feel constrained to point out to fellow readers and fans. Notwithstanding all that, if you don't mind the issues I discuss, I can recommend this as a captivating Scottish historical romance with a sweet ending.

An old woman's curse upon two families is lived out in this story of Scotland in the 15th century. The ancient tale was told of three castles on Loch Ness (we are given a map) and of bonnie Anne MacBeth of Glenkirk who was taken captive by the Carmichaels of Bailekair (and Dundereen) and never returned. The MacBeths stormed the castle of Bailekair to get her back, but they were defeated and left in shame. The old woman had raised the girl and her curse predicted the coming of the Devil's own spawn (a MacBeth, our hero) and the daughter of the lion, a "golden tigress" (a Carmichael, our heroine), the latter who would bring much suffering and death. The old woman essentially foretells that what the Carmichaels wrought will be brought down on their own heads. All this in the first 20 pages! Sooooo, we begin with the prediction of a lot of bad stuff. I suppose we should not be surprised then when all the bad stuff happens. And, it does--for 500+ pages. (She gives you your money's worth!)

Hunter MacBeth is a handsome rogue and warrior who had a gypsy mother who disappears at his birth causing his father to take his own life. For some reason we are not told, Hunter has the "accursed" Carmichael eyes (purple). When he comes upon the beautiful Mary Carmichael, the only daughter of the Lion of Bailekair, Hunter mistakes her for a whore and tries to buy her favors. Mary, insulted, strikes out with her own insults and then knocks him out with a rock. Realizing she is a Carmichael, Hunter vows to have his revenge and finds it when they both end up at King James' court. At first Hunter's only desire in taking Mary is to ruin and shame her, and he does that (it seems all the Highlanders in this book who take women intend rape; perhaps it was historically the done thing); but once Hunter has her, he realizes he loves the proud, courageous beauty. And she loves him. Ah, but you know it won't be that easy. The story goes on for hundreds of pages as one tragedy after another happens, they are continually separated, and the blood of both clans flows freely.
4 and 1/2 Stars - Captivating Scottish Love Story, Though at Times Disturbing

Brandewyne does a great job of weaving a complex tale and her characters are so real and the villains so evil, you will find your emotions reeling. There was a point, midway through the story when I found their many trials wearying, and both Hunter and Mary got on my nerves, but the ending was sweet. I did find it hard to believe she would think Hunter could leave his monogrammed dirk in the back of someone he supposedly murdered. (He was nae a fool, as they say.) And I found it hard to believe Hunter could be as cruel as he was at one point. But perhaps Brandewyne intended we think badly of them.

This romance takes some endurance, as much happens and the main characters travel to Western and Eastern Europe of the day, but like so many of her stories, the end is worth the patience it takes to get there. It is well written--an intricately woven story of first love, betrayal, heartbreak, unrequited love, loss of innocence and childhood dreams, and finally, enduring love.

The reviews that say there is a lot of brutality and rape are correct, but it does seem to fit the tale. I can only say you will not be bored. For those Brandewyne fans who are not dismayed by the issues I have raised, you will find the story worth the read.

[Cat The Curious · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm re-reading one of my all time favs. I love Rebecca Brandewyne. Why can't they write them like this anymore?

[Marie Therese · Rating 1 out of 5]

I’m rating this with 1 star because the heroine was so stupid. I would even consider her a TSTL. All those atrocious things that happened to her were a result of her own stupid decisions and actions. She just reaped the consequences of her choices and actions. And boy oh boy were those consequences so ugly, really ugly, that this book was so depressing to read. What a stupid heroine and really evil villains. The hero should have just left her alone. She’s not worth the trouble.

[Misfit]

I solemly promise Karla if I hate this I will not continue. K?

[Misfit · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic example of the older classic bodice rippers. http://misfitandmom.wordpress.com/201...

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 1 out of 5]

Рядко съм се сблъсквала с чак толкова нелепи герои. Цялата драма в сюжета, а тя е тонове и тонове, се крепи на пълната глупост на двамата главни герои. Просто са кръгли и безволеви идиоти.

На всичкото отгоре авторката е решила да възпроизведе средновековен шотландски акцент, което е даже по-непоносимо от глупостта на всички участници.

Нямах търпение да я изтрия от четеца…

Минус звезди…

[William · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overwritten, lurid, violent, and full of unpleasant characters, "Forever, My Love" shouldn't work. Its heroine, Mary Carmichael, goes beyond the foolishness of historical romance heroines to being outright stupid at several major plot points, drawing the events of the book out much, much longer than they need to be. And yet, for all these faults--and a really unpleasant habit on author Brandewyne's part to degrade her heroine, through being slandered by the hero, as well as many other characters, as well as through rape and degradation--the story of Hunter MacBeth and Mary Carmichael, members of warring clans in late 15th century Scotland, keeps the reader turning the page. Never mind the historical inaccuracies and phonetic Highlands dialect, either, which is just annoying. The overlay of supernatural elements, family curses, crumbling castles--and then, total wackadoodle things like an extended journey throughout Europe and into Belgrade--manage to keep the action moving. Rescues in the nick of time? Check. Romany encampments? Check. The Loch Ness Monster? Check. it's a total mess and shouldn't work. But it does. Is it icky? Yes. Even by first-gen historical romance bodice ripper standards, it's icky. Especially with villains like Hugh Carmichael, Mary Carmichael's vicious cousin and tormenter, as well as her grotesque mother and other assorted nasty pieces of work. And again, Mary Carmichael is a heroine that will try even the most patient reader's patience. Right up to the end of the book she's making dumb decisions. Nevertheless, there's a reason the author was a best-seller back in the day and this novel is a fair example of it. You just probably won't re-read it.

[Maddie · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the Best Historical Romances ever written. This one is not PC by any of today's standard so be forwarned. Violence, bloodshed, torture and yes, even wife-beating occur in this detailed and passionate story of star-crossed lovers. I Recommend this book for all those fans of Scotland and Highlanders.

[Kiri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is an example of Historical Romance done properly. It offers a bit of everything. A mystery that only resolves at the end of the book, conflict, travel, star-crossed lovers (yes lovers.. there are more than one set in this) and so on. Admittedly it is a bodice-ripper and while the basic historical framework is intact the author mentions in her note that she changed what she needed and wanted to to fit the story. The thing is the story is so engrossing you really don't notice. The key here is that the story is driven by the romantic context - not the reason for it. You also never get the feeling that the author is following a formula [Hai Harlequin!] and thinks.. oh six pages have gone by *insert sex scene, romantic whatever, ad nauseam*. The encounters in this novel make sense to the storyline and the plot.

Karia's review is one of the better ones shown below and part of the reason I am not being more detailed. The only thing she didn't mention is regarding the pairs of lovers - we have the "anti-star-crossed lovers" in the form of Ian and .. ok I forgot her name. But their relationship while [a form of] love is seriously twisted, unlike the other sets in this novel. It offers an interesting counter-point in perspective.

I'll review Green Darkness by Anya Seton one of these days to show the difference between a Historical Romance / Bodice Ripper and a Historical Fiction Romance. Both Green Darkness and this book are excellent and deserve high praise.

This was written as a counterpoint to my review of The Traitor's Wife by Susan Higginbotham.

(June 2011)

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

The ridiculous 100+ year feud that the people alive today weren’t even alive to experience is obnoxious. The petty fighting over every little slight. The cruelty shown to fellow human beings/countrymen is too much.

[Lorelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I give it 4 1/2 stars. This was a quality read and much recommended. The end of the book was unexpected for me.

[🌒JFosbookboss🌒 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 -Wow, what an epic story founded on a mythical legend. This should (IS- as I KNOW some of this story was highjacked in another book I read published after this) BE the blue print for Historical ”Romance” novels. yeah this story is dark, but in reality to the time period. I would say the book is Historical for sure but ”Romance” I would use that carefully as this book isnt romantic or fluffy. It does center around a couple but its not what the story represents. They’re the just final pieces of the puzzle.

Major bonuses for this book are the following:

Zero dull chapters the book speed along at very fast pace for 560+ pages. (she clearly cut our detail some booKs have over descrpitive settings, lengthy pages on any sort of travel(Nobody needs to feel as if they are ACTUALLY traveling by horseback in 15th century) This books Ubers u to the next scene! Whew!

The language used is descriptive of the time, but not silly to read, confusing, and/or used so much its annoying.

The book’s historical reference to 15th century Scotish Highlands, & real King James of Scotland is solid as well!
Last, The book provides a list of the cast of characters & detail about the history and each clan (it wasn't needed but nice anyway)

[Amanda Ronney · Rating 1 out of 5]

I tried but I just couldn't like Mary. I honestly think she's TSTL because all the terrible things that happened to her were her own stupid fault. Like seriously!! How could she marry that jackass of a cousin whose abuse of her was so atrocious. She knew what a monster he was but still, she married the guy. What did she expect? Marrying a guy she knew killed her father! Sick!! Also, I was peeved to no end when she just blindly believed that Hunter had killed her brother. She didn't even give him a chance to explain. He had no reason whatsoever to kill Gordie. Then when he ( H ) tried to rescue her from making the biggest mistake of her life she sent her sob husband after him and Hunter almost died. I don't think Mary was worth the trouble. I'm sorry I even read that novel. Plus, the villains’ endings were not satisfactory especially considering how vile and evil they were.

[Noelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely beautiful prose and such an amazing story. Kinda like Romeo and Juliet. I actually screamed when Mary signed Hunter’s death warrant!!! Also I love that Hunter never turned against her or doubted her, and even when he tried to do it, he immediately fell apart when seeing her again. This is so different from other stories I’ve read.

I feel a little like Mary, with how much doubt she had about the future 🥺

[Doux Me · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best Rebecca Brandewyne book you can read is Love Cherish Me. It's so beautiful and romantic. Loved it. Still have and read and re-read the copy I bought in the 90's.

[Serena Miles · Rating 1 out of 5]

creo que me lei 90 paginas... un libro insufrible... creo que fue el primer libro que no me lei entero

[Marielle · Rating 3 out of 5]

(P) For me, relatively new to the old school historical romance, this was quite an adventure. I really loved reading this book and am glad to have discovered a new author. There were some issues though and that's why I personally gave the 3 star rating.

pro: I very much liked the length of the story and the enormous amounts of 'stuff' happening. Used as I am to the modern, shorter romances (and hating it when they finish all too soon) this was like a breath of fresh air. It took me, in between work, almost a week to finish whereas with a short modern romance I'm happy if I can escape to the setting for a day and therefore crave the serialized romances that keep me in the setting longer.
con: The dialect used in this book did distract me from the reading experience, probably more so because I'm Dutch and not native English speaking. Thanks to previous highlander romances I already knew how to translate the 'ye ken' and 'oot'.
pro/con: Miss Brandewyne did indeed know how to torture her leading man and lady. If it wasn't for some of the reviews here that promised a HEA, I'm not sure I would have been able to stick with it at the times the story did slow.
con: To keep the story going as long as it did, the heroes did have to make some contrary choices. Most of the times they were explained very well due to circumstances. But there were some peculiar choices that had grave consequences that were not so well explained and it did require some suspension of disbelief.
pro (for me but could be a big no no for others): The sexual violence in this book did not distract from my rating, but strangely or sadly... it added to the truthful feel of this book. If the villain had acted differently, it wouldn't have fitted his character or the time the story was set. But for those of you that cannot stomach that kind of thing in a book: don't pick this one.

I'm definetely going to read more Rebecca Brandewyne. But since the reading has been so intense, I might just take a wee detour to a light fluffy contemporary.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rate this book a 3.5, there were time while reading it that I was thinking a solid 4 star but there were times when I was ready for the book to be over with and felt it was dragging a lot so that is why I dropped it back to the 3 star.

Good strong characters, both the main ones and the supporting characters. Loved the curse and how it played out but there were times when I thought the book could have ended and been just fine rather than throwing in another obstacle for the couple to overcome.

Overall a good book but be ready to invest some time into it.

[Wyldrabbit · Rating 3 out of 5]

It is somewhat scary how sometimes you just cannot stop yourself from reading when terrible things happen to nice people. I do not believe the hero, and /the heroine was to weak. I wanted her to be stronger, and I thought the Hero was sometimes not strong enough.

[Sherron · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5

[C.C. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Skimmed the last third. I was an interesting story, but I just can't stand the thick accents being written out phonetically.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars I enjoyed this story but found it overly heavy with history throughout.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anyone know where I can get this book for my Kindle? Its one of my favorite books EVER.

[Kayla Holthe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Finally done! It was one of those you get bored with and set aside for awhile and read other books. It got way to long when it didn’t need to be. It seemed like what’s the point during the middle part. Kept waiting for it to come about. Once I finished it it was good but it could have easily been shortened by a 1/3.

[RomLibrary]

Echoing across the stormy waters of Loch Ness came a gypsy's haunting curse, foretelling a forbidden passion that would drench the Scottish crags with blood.

And from the first moment that Mary Carmichael lifted her violet eyes to those of Hunter MacBeth, the prophecy began to come true.

Hunter was Mary's kidnapper - and her lover. He begged a king for her hand, and she braved secret torture to be true.

Theirs is a legend of struggle against relentless hate, of two wild hearts who pledged defiantly, Forever my Love